2018-19 AACOMAS Application Cycle Updates

The 2018-2019 AACOMAS application cycle will open for submissions on May 3, 2018. Please find important information about the upcoming cycle below, including key AACOMAS dates, updates for the 2018-19 cycle, and tips for applying.

Increase AACOMAS Fee Waiver FundingAACOM is proud to announce that, for the first time, fee waivers were awarded to all eligible financially disadvantaged students who applied to the AACOMAS Fee Assistance Program in the 2017-2018 cycle. Historically, AACOM waived the application fee for approximately 800 students and exhausted funds in July of each application cycle. This left nearly 700 eligible fee waiver applicants without waivers each year. Due to an increase in funding for the 2017-2018 cycle, AACOM doubled the reach of the fee waiver program and awarded nearly 1,700 financially disadvantaged applicants with fee waivers. AACOM will continue to review this fund to ensure we can assist as many future physicians as possible and diversify the pipeline.

Updates for the 2018-2019 AACOMAS Cycle

College Information ResourcesThe 2018-2019 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book (CIB) is now available for free online at www.aacom.org/cib. The College Information Book contains an overview of the profession, lists key data about each of the 34 accredited U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine, and is an essential resource for students applying in the upcoming AACOMAS cycle.

Applicant Help CenterThe online AACOMAS Instructions and FAQs has also been redesigned to provide a more intuitive and user-friendly experience for applicants. The new AACOMAS Applicant Help Center will contain a quick start guide and easy-to-navigate online interface. The Help Center contents will now be fully searchable to ensure applicants can efficiently find the information they need to apply successfully. The new AACOMAS Applicant Help Center will launch on May 3 with the 2018-2019 AACOMAS cycle.

Tips for Applying

Apply Early (but don’t rush!)
While AACOMAS opens for submissions on May 3, applications are not released to colleges for review until June 15. Encourage students to apply early (by August 1) to increase their chances of obtaining an interview at a college of osteopathic medicine. Students should also be encouraged to take their time in carefully completing their application.

Fee Waivers
AACOMAS fee waivers are available at the start of each cycle. Once approved for a fee waiver, applicants must submit their AACOMAS application within 14 days (including holidays and weekends). For these reasons, encourage applicants to carefully review all fee waiver instructions and adjust their application timeline accordingly.

FAQ: Missing Official MCAT Scores
Failure to release official MCAT scores to AACOMAS may delay a college from reviewing an applicant’s file. Follow the following two-step process below to ensure their official MCAT scores are submitted correctly:

Applicants must accurately self-report their name, date of birth, and AAMC ID (distributed upon registering for the MCAT exam) into the AACOMAS application. The information entered into AACOMAS must match exactly what is on the MCAT.

Academic Update (Coursework) Periods
Academic Update Periods are windows throughout the application cycle when applicants enter and submit newly completed or planned courses to AACOMAS after their application has been submitted and verified. Failing to submit updated coursework within these three periods may delay a college’s review of the applicant’s file. Encourage applicants to submit updates and final transcripts to AACOMAS during the designated Academic Update Periods outlined at the top of this communication.